Cloth-measuring machine



No. 654,229. Patented July 24, I900. I

T. .1. Mann. CLOTH MEASURING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 7, 1897.)

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I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. CLOUD, OF KILLEEN, TEXAS.-

CLOTH-MEASURING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 654,229, dated July24., 1900. Application filed Jul 7,1897. Serial a. 643,727. (No model.)

To all whon't it rncty concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. CLOUD, residing at Killeen, in the countyof Bell and State of Texas, have invented a new and usefulCloth-Measuring Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to certain improvements inmeasuring-machines, and more particularly to the class known asclothmeasnrers.

An object of the invention is to provide a cloth-measuring machine soconstructed that the same can be placed upon a counter or floor and thecloth, ribbon, carpet, or other goods measured in a short space of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cloth-measuringmachine'having a guide or apron over which the goods travel before theycome in contact with the measuring-rolls;

A further object of the invention is to provide a cloth-measuringmachine simple in construction and composed of but a few strong andinexpensive parts.

My invention further consists in the improved construction, arrangement,and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and afterwardspecifically pointed out in the claim.

In order that persons skilled in the art to which my invention mostnearly appertains may make and use the same, I will now proceed todescribe its construction and operation, having reference to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which-Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my invention in operative position.Fig. 2 is an end view showing the uprights and the rollers mountedtherein. Fig. 5 is a cross-see tional view of a modified form offeedingrollers. Fig.4 is a detail sectional view of the feed-rollers andthe adjusting mechanism, and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of aportion of the apron.

Like letters of reference mark the same parts wherever they occurthroughout the various figures of the drawings.

In the practical embodiment of my invention I have shown-a supportcomprising a base A, brace-rods B, -and the central upwardly-extendin guprights C, formed integral with the base portion and being providedwith the vertical slot D.

E indicates the rollers carried by shafts E, mounted in boxes F in theslotted part of the uprights, the shafts E also carrying the gearwheelsG, which are adapted to mesh one with the other when in operativeposition.

Snugly fitting in the slot of the uprights at a point below the box F ofthe bottom roller is a rubber cushion or spring I, against which saidboxing bears when the temperscrew J, located in the upper portion of theupright, is brought down in the boxing thereof, so as to lower the upperroller to engage with the lower roller in order that the two rollers maybe brought closely together.

J indicates a hand-crank for rotating the lower roller.

K represents an indicator secured in any desirable manner to the side ofone of the up right-s, said indicator being provided with a lug orprojection L, adapted to contact with aseries of projections M, arrangedatintervals along the outer periphery of the upper roller.

On the face of one end of the upper roller are the numerals 9 to 18 and27 to 36, the same being intended to represent quarters, halves,three-quarters, and ayard, respectively, of the goods to be measured, sothat when the roller provided with the crank J is revolved one-quarterof its circumference the indicator will designate one-fourth of a yardhaving been measured. Arranged in the front of the machine is a basketor apron N, which can be composed of any suitable material, the samegradually slanting from its lower end to the upper portion thereof andbeing supported in any suitable manner, preferably by standards 0, thelower portions thereof being secured in any desirable way to the flooror counter.

O indicatesbrace-r'ods extending from the lower part of the enlargedportion of the apron or basket, the top part thereof being secured to atable P, the rear end of said table being attached, as shown, to the topedges of the basket, so that a slot or opening Q will be formed betweenthe rear part of said table and the top edges of the basket or apron topermit the operator to insert a knife or scissors under the materialtraveling over said apron and table in order that the same can besevered after the desired quantity of goods have been measured.

It represents a reel or standard having the bearings S formed for thereception of a bolt or roll of carpet or other material T, although, ifdesired, any suitable construction of support might be. employed forcarrying such bolts or rolls at this end of the machine, it alldepending upon the nature of the goods to be fed between the rollerswhen the same are about to be measured.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a somewhat-modified form of feed rollers, thefaces thereof being provided with a series of. serrations E which areintended to grip the material as it is being fed to the rollers.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoingdescription and may be briefly stated as follows: Supposing the parts tobe in the position shown in Fig. 1 and it is desired to measure acertain amount of goods, the belt or roll of goods is secured in anysuitable manner to the lower portion of the basket or apron and the edgeof the free end thereof is brought over thetop of this apron or basketand the table arranged infront of the same. The cloth or othermaterialthat is to be measured is then placed between the measuring-rolls andthe crank J turned. Should one-half of a yard of the material carried bythe apron or basket be dc sired to be measured, the crank of the lowerfeed-roll is revolved onehalf the circumferonce thereof, this movementimparting motion to the upper feed-roller, which in turn will revolvethe pointer of the indicator K, by means of which the quantity of goodsthat have been measured will be made known to or apron to carry carpetsor the like, it will of course be understood that I can arrange anysuitable supporting device at this end of the machine that will beadapted to carry ribbons or any other material.

By reason of the construction herein set i2 Q i r 654,229

forth it will be seen that I provide a guideway or apron whereby thematerial to be measured is fed between the operating-rollers and that byrevolving one of said rollers any desired quantity of goods can beeasily and quickly measured and severed from the bolt or roller carryingthe same.

The construction herein described is very simple and composed of but afew parts'and by its use I am not oulyenabled to hold the material inthe desired position as it is being unwound from the boil: or roll, butalso provide a peculiar arrangement of parts whereby the same can bemeasured and afterward severed in the desired manner.

If desired, any desirable folding mechanism suited to the goods can bearranged or connected to the machine herein set forth, so that while thegoods are being measured from the bolt carrying'the same they can befolded in the manner desired.

While I have illustrated and described the best means now known to mefor carrying out my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do notrestrict myself to the exact details of construction shown anddescribed, but hold that any slight changes or variations in suchdetails as might suggest themselves to I the ordinary mechanic willproperly fall within the limit and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is-

- In a cloth-measurer, the combination, with two rollers, of areceptacle, the forward end of which is inclined relatively to therollers, an apron secured at its ends only to the top of the front ofthe receptacle and forming a space therebetweeu, and extending horizontally therefrom nearly' to the contacting points of the rollers, and asupport at the 0pposite end of the receptacle provided withjournal-bearings for supporting the cloth to be measured, substantiallyas'described.

THOMAS J. CLOUD. Witnesses:

J. K. MURPHY, S. D. KYNERD.

